McAllen Teacher Is Finalist for State Teacher of the Year

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McAllen Teacher Is Finalist for State Teacher of the Year

Jennifer Han
Jennifer Han

Jennifer Han, a fourth-grade teacher at McAllen ISD’s Seguin Elementary, is now a finalist for the Texas Teacher of the Year Award after being named the Regional Elementary Teacher of the Year. She is one of only six finalists for the statewide award and the only one from the Rio Grande Valley.

Han has been teaching for 13 years and is also a robotics team coach. She is a 2003 graduate from McAllen Memorial High.

Han’s regional recognition came at the recent annual Regional Teacher of the Year banquet at Region One Education Service Center in Edinburg. This is the 18th time a McAllen teacher has won the regional award in the past 30 years. Two of the 17 previous winners went on to be state winners, the most recent being in 2009.

Earlier this month, Han spoke to more than 100 new teachers at the McAllen ISD New Teacher Orientation. She reminded them of their tremendous power to impact students’ lives.

“You can change humanity one classroom at a time,” she said. 

She describes herself as a risk-taker, innovator and an agent of classroom change, according to a news release from Region One ESC. Han recognizes the power of the written word to get to know her students and to give them a voice. 

“I have learned through the years of being a writing teacher that kids want to be noticed, acknowledged and liked,” Han said. “They want to share and show us who they are. They love talking about their dreams, families, special talents and things that make them proud. Though not all students may have the ability to glide on paper to express themselves, in my class all students are encouraged to try their best to tell their own story.”

“Great Equalizer”

Understanding that the students in her classroom come from different backgrounds, Han uses writing to engage and include all students.

“No matter if you are a gifted and talented or a special education student, an English as a Second Language (student) or a native student, a student from an affluent or a humble family, writing time is the great equalizer in my class,” she said. “They are all provided the guidance, the tools and, more importantly, the platform to share their story and be heard.”

The Texas Elementary and Texas Secondary Teachers of the Year winners will be announced Oct. 15 at the Texas Teacher of the Year Awards Ceremony in Austin. One of those two winners will also be selected to represent Texas in the National Teacher of the Year competition.

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